I AM GRIEVING A LOSS BY SUICIDE....

Have you lost a loved one to suicide? We are so sorry for your loss, but glad that you have reached out for help coping with suicide.

Suicide is complicated, but from research we know a lot about it.

More than 90% of people who take their own lives have an underlying mental disorder at the time of their death. Many times, that disorder was never identified.

The disorders most often associated with suicide are depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Substance abuse, either on its own or in combination with another mental disorder, can also be a factor when someone takes their own life.

These disorders can cause terrible suffering. They can affect a person’s ability to think clearly and to make decisions. They can interfere with seeking help, continuing treatment, or taking prescribed medicines.

An underlying mental disorder alone is not usually enough. Most people who kill themselves experienced a combination of deep psychological pain, desperate hopelessness, and challenging life events.

We know that suicide is the tragic outcome of a serious underlying illness combined with a complicated mix of individual circumstances. It is not a sign of moral weakness. It does not reveal a character flaw. It is not a sign of irresponsibility, or a hostile act. It should not be a source of shame. Reading this paragraph over and over again until it sinks in can help you to make sense of the suicide loss and begin your healing journey.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, you may feel alone, shocked, responsible, angry, abandoned, ashamed, guilty, or relieved. Don’t worry. It is normal to have some, all, or none of these feelings as you cope with suicide loss.

If you would like an Outreach Visit from trained local volunteers with suicide loss, who will listen and offer reassurance, as well as resources; please contact Jim McAleer at clachtara@aol.com, 413-734-3676 to schedule a visit in Western Massachusetts. You may choose to meet in person, by telephone, or by email.

If you would like to participate in a Walk to bring suicide "Out of the Darkness", please visit www.afsp.donordrive.com

If you would like to learn more about the International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day when survivors gather at local events to share stories of healing and hope, visit www.survivorday.org You can also watch past documentaries and contribute to a Digital Memory Quilt.

If you feel ready and would like to learn more about suicide prevention efforts in our region and across the state, then click here to add your email address to our member list of the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention.

If you would like to subscribe to a local email newsletter for Berkshire County, that connects with local survivors of suicide loss - please fill out this form:

SURVIVOR OF SUICIDE LOSS BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

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First Name

Last Name

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Thank you!

The Memory Quilts

AFSP's Memory Quilt Program was founded by the late Sandy Martin in 1995 following the loss of her son, Tony, to suicide.

Lifekeeper Memory Quilt

Sandy developed the original Lifekeeper Memory Quilt Program as a way to "put a face on suicide." Loss survivors create individual memorial squares, which are assembled into traditional quilts that are displayed at public events. Click here to learn more.